Just Get Over It: Juan Castillo, New Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Coordinator

Yes, the Eagles hired an offensive line coach to be their defensive coordinator. It was a bold, unexpected, and risky move.

The process that led to the decision was unorganized, unplanned, and, in many people’s opinion, unsuccessful.

The reaction to it, a backlash of sorts, was warranted for many reasons. Not necessarily for the man hired, but for how the Eagles went about hiring him, and for their perceived arrogance in the process.

But whether you like it or not, the decision has been made. Juan Castillo is the new defensive coordinator.

Get over it.

People are acting like Juan Castillo has never sniffed a football field. He's one of the best and most experienced coaches in the NFL, and has mastered one of coaching's lost arts: teaching.

Notice—I refer to him as a coach. Not a water boy. Not a left fielder. Not an auto mechanic. A football coach.

This isn’t the first time a coach/player has switched to the other side of the ball. Ernie Zampese, one of the best offensive minds in the history of the NFL, was a former secondary coach.

Bill Walsh, the innovator of the West Coast Offense, also coached secondary in college.

Our own Jim Johnson was a tight end and quarterback for the Bills before becoming one of the best defensive coordinators in football.

Sure, Juan Castillo is not the guy anyone wanted or expected, but look around at the other candidates: Darren Perry, Winston Moss, Ray Horton, Joe Woods, Dennis Allen, Jon Hoke.

Who the hell are they?

Every one of them has been promoted within the last two years from assistant or quality control positions. They don’t have half the coaching experience that Juan Castillo does, and they all come from 3-4 schemes which don’t fit the Eagles personnel.

Yes, they actually coach on the defensive side of the ball, but none of them have ever called a defense on Sunday.

So what’s the big deal?

It’s not like Dick LeBeau and Dom Capers were available.

The reality: no one can pass judgement, good or bad. No one knows what will happen, but Juan Castillo is one of the hardest working and longest tenured coaches on the staff.